Email from Ron and Aurellia and my reply

Character Not Made but Revealed in a Crisis

       Commentary on Matthew 25:1-13

The two classes of watchers [the wise and the foolish virgins] represent the two classes who profess to be waiting for their Lord. They are called virgins because they profess a pure faith. By the lamps is representing the word of God.... the oil is a symbol of the Holy Spirit....

In the parable, all the ten virgins went out to 

meet the bridegroom. All  had lamps and vessels for oil. For a time there was seen no difference between them. So with the church that lives just before Christ’s second coming. All have a knowledge of the scriptures. All  have heard the message of Christ’s near approach, and confidently expect His appearing. But as in the parable, so it is now. A time of waiting intervenes, faith is tried; and when the cry is heard, “Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go you out to meet Him,” many are unready.

They have no oil in their vessels with their lamps. They are destitute of the Holy Spirit....

The class represented by the foolish virgins are not hypocrites. They have a regard for the truth, they have advocated the truth, they are attracted to those who believe the truth; but they have not yielded themselves to the Holy Spirit’s working....

It is in a crisis that character is revealed. ... it will show whether the soul is sustained by grace....

The ten virgins are watching in the evening of this earth’s history. All claim to be Christians. All have a call, a name, a lamp, and all profess to be doing God’s service. All apparently wait for Christ’s appearing. But five are unready. Five will be found surprised, dismayed, outside the banquet hall....

Saddest of all words that ever fell on mortal ear are those words of doom, “I know you not.” (Matt.25:12)

See also Matt.7:21-23 

Christ Object Lessons p. 406-413

Re: Fwd: Thought for Today

Saturday, February 10, 2018 9:08 AM

Bottom of Form

From: 

“David Burdick” <biking4theblind@yahoo.com>

True, the lost [the foolish virgins] will “have not yielded themselves to the Holy Spirit’s working.” But who did Ellen White mean by the Holy Spirit? JESUS! By His own Spirit, His personal comfort, His infinite gentleness! Jesus, the “Son of the Highest” conceived by the “power of the Highest”, “the only begotten of the Father” (John 1:12), the Spirit of the Most High, the power of the Most High from the bosom of the Most High conceiving the Son of the Most High. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” (Luke 2:14). “Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.” (Luke 19:38).

“And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a Son, and shalt call His name JESUS. 

He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of His father David: 

And He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end. 

Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? 

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy Thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.” (Luke 1:31-35).

If we aren’t yielding to Jesus “called the prophet of the Highest” (Luke 1:76) from “the power of the Highest”, Him personally and not some third person trespasser of the Godhead Father and Son, then we are foolish virgins and will miss out on the loud midnight cry to join the wedding party. We won’t be “children of the Highest” (Luke 6:35).

Let’s not be deceived.

David